Greenrock is commending the Department of Energy for holding the island’s second ever 2016 Energy Summit, saying that “it is time for Bermuda to move from aspiration to action.”

Greenrock Executive Director Jonathan Starling said, “We were happy to participate in the planning of this event as we view conversations on Bermuda’s energy future to be of critical importance for our island.

“This summit helps raise awareness of the various issues concerning energy and is a vital part in facilitating the wider conversation that we as a community must have.

“Greenrock remains committed to seeing Bermuda transition to a low-carbon future based on renewable energy.

“We believe this is not only viable but also morally justified in light of both stemming the flow of hard currency out of the island, and, most importantly, in light of human induced global climate change.

“We are also mindful of Bermuda’s obligations – through the UK – to both the Kyoto Protocol and the more recent 2015 Paris Agreement to begin this transition to a low-carbon future.

“We also note the release of BELCO’s Integrated Resource Plan [IRP].

“We will take our time to review this IRP, and will comment on it later. The IRP model has an important role to play in developing our energy future, however it is our belief that the true potential of this approach is only realised in connection with clear targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions [GHG] and targets for both energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“For example, the UK parliament passed a Climate Change Act in 2008 to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, with an objective of reducing their carbon emissions to 80% of their 1990 baseline.

“The Scottish Parliament passed a similarly ambitious act in 2009, which also sets annual targets for GHG emissions and renewable energy increases, as well as introducing a levy on single-use plastic bags.

“These Acts have provided the legislative structure to enable a transition to a low-carbon economy. Importantly, the technology required has advanced considerably in the years since. What is required for Bermuda is for the Government to take a leadership role to support this transition to a low-carbon economy.

“In light of the challenges of human-induced global climate change in the 21st Century, we believe that Bermuda is up for the challenge.

“While we all have a part to play in making Bermuda more sustainable, we must move beyond mere aspiration and introduce a legislative framework to effect real change as an island state.

“As such, we encourage the Government to build on this Energy Summit and the 2011 White Paper on Energy – which called for 30% of Bermuda’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2030 – by following the lead of both the UK and Scottish Governments by introducing an ambitious Climate Change Act for Bermuda.

“The 2016 Energy Summit is a great starting point; however it is time for Bermuda to move from aspiration to action.”

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Comments (13)

Why do they insist on talking about “low carbon”? Carbon, the element C, is not produced in Bermuda at all.

They are talking about carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant. It is a naturally occurring gas essential for plant life. Reducing carbon dioxide would, ironically, make the planet less green.

The entire Agenda 21 lie and it’s anthropomorphic “global warming” proxy is designed in two parts – to provide a global tax base to eventually fund a one world government comprised of un-elected “elites” and to stifle developing country growth and independence… in essence to ensure the hegemony of the west – it is new age imperialism the purest sense.

You have believed all the nonsense spouted to you by Greenrock and all the others. In grenhouses all over the world concentrated CO2 gas is pumped in because it promotes plant growth. CO2 is not “carbon”, and it is not a pollutant. It is plant food.

As for “global warming”, explain The Pause. It should be easy; there have been over 60 excuses for it published by alarmist scientists since 2007. All different. And now even Mann, (the global warming guy who sas he has a Nobel Prize but doesn’t) can’t agree with the other warmists about it.

How does a BELCO customer and community members find out what is being discussed at these Energy Summit?

Is there a website or publication of the topics and suggestions around Energy Generation in Bermuda? It looks like a private by invitation only affair.

Glad to see Mr. Starling on this as it is such a huge decision for all residents and one that historically has been managed by BELCO alone in quiet conversations with the sitting Government.

I trust the Department of Energy is bringing some of the talents Bermudians in the field of Energy Generation to these gatherings and not just running the models being considered through a BELCO shareholder lens.

There is a bigger picture happening around the world and in small island states.

It is time to open up the energy generation market and give all Bermudians a fair chance to reduce their energy bills, feel proud of how they are generating/consuming energy and move away from the old model of BELCO’s in charge.